view from Poonhill
At Tadapani

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek - 8 Days

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Trip at a Glance
Duration8 Days
Trip GradeEasy
CountryNepal
Maximum Altitude3210
Group Size1-20
StartsPokhara
EndsPokhara
ActivitiesTrekking
Best Timespring and autumn

Ghorepani Poonhill Trek Overview

The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is one of Nepal’s most popular short treks, offering an incredible mix of Himalayan scenery, cultural immersion, and natural beauty over just a few days. Ideal for beginners and experienced trekkers alike, this trek is located in the Annapurna region, providing breathtaking views of some of Nepal’s most iconic peaks.

The highlight of the trek is the sunrise view from Poon Hill, situated at 3,210 meters (10,531 feet). An early morning hike to the viewpoint rewards trekkers with a spectacular panorama of the world’s 10th highest mountain, Annapurna I, and the Dhaulagiri ranges, including peaks like Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machapuchare (Fishtail), and Nilgiri. As the sun rises, the snow-capped mountains are painted in hues of pink and gold, creating a magical and unforgettable moment.

The trek passes through traditional villages inhabited by the Gurung and Magar communities, known for their rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality. Villages like Nangethati, Ulleri, Deurali, Hilu, Tadapani, and Ghorepani offer the chance to interact with locals, learn about their customs, and experience their daily life. The friendly hotel stays provide an authentic feel, allowing trekkers to enjoy local foods and traditions along the way.

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trail takes trekkers through lush forests, particularly stunning in spring (March to May) when the rhododendrons are in full bloom. The trail becomes a vibrant display of red, pink, and white blossoms, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding greenery and mountain views. These forests also offer sightings of diverse flora and fauna, making it an appealing trek for nature lovers.

The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is relatively short and of moderate difficulty, making it suitable for all ages and experience levels. The trek usually lasts for 4 to 5 days and involves well-established paths with gradual altitude gains, making it an excellent introduction to trekking in Nepal for beginners, families, or those with limited time. It’s a rewarding adventure that doesn’t require prior high-altitude trekking experience.

In addition to the Poon Hill viewpoint, trekkers are treated to panoramic views throughout the journey. The scenic landscapes of terraced fields, cascading rivers, and distant snow-covered peaks provide captivating sights at every turn. The combination of Himalayan peaks and lush valleys makes for picture-perfect views that showcase the natural beauty of the Annapurna Region.

Highlights of the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek

  • Witnessing the breathtaking sunrise view looks like painting the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges in vibrant hues from Poon Hill. 
  • Trek through lush forests bursting with colorful rhododendron blooms, which are especially beautiful during spring. If you go in spring, the rhododendron forests are like walking through a colorful dream.
  • Experience the warm hospitality and unique culture of the local Gurung communities in Ghorepani and other villages.
  • Capture stunning landscapes, vibrant flora, and traditional villages.
  • Perfect for those with limited time, offering a rewarding Himalayan experience in just a few days.
  • Visiting Gurung Museum in Ghandruk, where you can see many old settlements of the Gurung community.

Why Ghorepani Poonhill Trek? 

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek in Nepal which lies in Annapurna Region is often considered one of the best treks for several reasons:

The trek offers breathtaking views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges, including peaks like Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and Annapurna. Along the way, you'll encounter charming villages inhabited by Gurung and Magar communities, providing opportunities to immerse yourself in local culture and traditions.

The trek is suitable for trekkers of various fitness levels, making it accessible to beginners. Kids can also hike up easily. This trek can be done by family groups of all ages. The trails are well-maintained, and there are tea houses along the route for accommodations and meals. It's a magical experience that's not to be missed.

Compared to other treks, Ghorepani Poonhill is value for money, where with a minimum budget, you can explore 4 -5 days of trekking.

Overall, the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek combines natural beauty, cultural immersion, and accessibility, making it a top choice for trekkers seeking an unforgettable Himalayan adventure.

Ghorepani Poonhill Trek Cost for 2025

Think of the total cost as a combination of fixed and variable expenses. Fixed costs, like permits (ACAP and TIMS), are essential. These usually run around 50-60 USD total. Then, consider your daily expenses. Teahouse accommodations are basic, costing 5-10 USD per night. Meals, mainly dal bhat, noodles, eggs, and other meal options, average 15-25 USD daily.

The biggest variable is whether you hire a guide and/or porter. For a guide, expect to pay 25-35 USD per day, and for a porter, 15-20 USD. While you can trek independently, a guide enhances your experience with local knowledge and safety.

Transportation to and from Pokhara, the trek's starting point, is another factor. A tourist bus from Kathmandu is the most budget-friendly, around 10-15 USD, while a private jeep is more comfortable but pricier, and flights are much more expensive in comparison to road transportation, which may cost you from 150 -200 USD.

So, for a 5-day trek, budgeting 400-600 USD per person is a reasonable starting point. This estimate includes permits, accommodation, meals, and potentially a guide or porter.

The Mountains seen during the Ghorepani PoonHill Trek

Along the way to Ghorepani Poonhill, you will walk through different villages and lush green forests, where you will be served breathtaking views of dozens of mountains. From the viewpoint of Poonhill, you will see 3 mountains above 8000 meters, including Dhaulagiri I (8,167m), Annapurna I (8,091m), and Manaslu 8,163 meters and other peaks over 6000 meters among them Annapurna South (7,219m), Annapurna II (7,937m), Annapurna III (7,555m), Nilgiri (7,061 meters) Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) (6,993m), Hiunchuli (6,441 meters), Tukuche Peak, Dhampus Peak, Lamjung Himal and, many other.

Poonhill Trek 2025
Mountain views from Poonhill View Point.

 

 
Itinerary

The itinerary can be customized according to your time and budget preferences. 

Trip PlanExpand all

Our representative will be waiting for your arrival. After your immigration formalities, you will be picked up by our team members from View Nepal Treks and Expedition for a warm, welcoming meet and greet. And transfer to the hotel, Basic activities are planned on this day, so as per your arrival time, you will have a couple of hours to rest and freshen up and a walk to nearby areas to buy essentials you need for the rest of the trekking days.

Max Altitude: 1,310 meters/ 4600 feet Meals: Welcome DinnerAccommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, you will be heading to Pokhara on a tourist bus and travel 204 kilometers/126 miles from Kathmandu. As you leave the capital city, you will see breathtaking landscapes of terraced farms, small towns, and high hills following the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers. After a couple of hours of bus travel, stop at the washroom, and you may buy some snacks as well. After a couple of hours, between 12 noon to 1 pm, you will stop for lunch, and after lunch 3 hours of drdrivingou will reach Pokhara. You have a choice between touring and relaxing in your hotel in Pokhara. Another option is to take a 35-minute flight to Pokhara, after which you can explore a city famed for its stunning beauty and lakes with mountain views. Overnight in Pokhara.

 

Max Altitude: 822 meters / 2,697 feet. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: HotelDuration: 7-8 hours drive.Distance: 204 kilometers/ 126 miles from Kathmandu

After early morning breakfast, from Pokhara it takes roughly 2 hours to reach Banthati. Your Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek will begin in Banthanti, where you will be following Modi Khola. You will pass different local villages, teahouses, beautiful green rolling hills, cascading rivers, and local people throughout the journey. After a 2-hour hike, you will arrive in Nangethati, which will be your perfect lunch stop. After lunch, the trail starts to ascend pretty steeply on a stone staircase. After 3 hours of hiking, we will reach Ghorepani before sunset, where you can enjoy the sunset and mountain view of Annapurna South, Annapurna fanga, and Machhapuchhre. Overnight in Ghorepani.

Max Altitude: 120 kilometers/ 74 miles. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: Hotel/ LodgeDuration: 5-6 hours hike.Distance: 120 kilometers/ 74 miles

This day is very crucial. You have to wake up early at 4 am to catch the sunrise view from Poonhill. We hike for about an hour up Poon Hill (3,210m) to watch the sunrise over the Himalayas. Once the sun has risen spectacularly over the mountains, you will spend 45 minutes having some snacks, and we will descend back to Ghorepani and have breakfast and continue our hike to Tadapani. The trail to Tadapani starts quite steep until we cross the Thapledanda and Deurali. After crossing, the Deurali trail is more comfortable and straight.  Overnight in Tadapani.

Max Altitude: 3,210 meters/ 10,531 feet Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: Lodge/ HotelDuration: 7- 8 hours hike.Distance: 11 kilometers/ 6 miles hike

Today, it’s a shorter hike. After breakfast, we will leave Tadapani, saying goodbye to the villagers. You will reach Ghandruk at lunch time, giving us plenty of time to explore Ghandruk, one of the largest Gurung villages.  One of the Gurung Culture Museum's highlights is an insight into people’s lives. Ghandruk offers one of the best views of Machhapuchhre Himal (Mt. Fishtail ).Overnight in Ghandruk.

Max Altitude: 1,940 meters / 6,365 feet Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: Lodge/ HotelDuration: 4 - 5 hours hike.Distance: 7 kilometers/ 4 miles.

Enjoy the last local breakfast of the trek before ascending down through villages to get to Naya Pool, where we can take a jeep back to Pokhara. It will take you around 2 to 2 and a half hours to reach Pokhara. You may enjoy walking on the lakeside and watching the sunset view from the lakeside of Phewa Lake. Overnight In Pokhara.

Max Altitude: 822 meters / 2,697 feet Meals: Breakfast, lunch, DinnerAccommodation: HotelDuration: 5- 6 hours hikeDistance: 10 kilometers/ 6 miles

After breakfast, you will board a tourist bus at 7 am and leave Pokhara. The bus will follow the same route to get back to Kathmandu, following the Marsyangdi River and then the Trishuli River. The route from Pokhara to Kathmandu passes through various attractive villages, including Damauli Bazaar, Dumre Bazaar, and Mugling Bazaar, which will be your lunch stop. After lunch, it will take you 3 hours to reach Kathmandu. The last stop is at Balaju, or you may take a 30-35 minute flight to Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Max Altitude: 1,310 meters/ 4600 feet Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: HotelDuration: 7-8 hours drive.Distance: 204 kilometers/ 126 miles from Kathmandu

Warm greetings and farewell by our representative. Our staff will be there at the hotel check-out time to reach you and depart to the Tribhuvan International Airport, an hour earlier before the boarding time.

Max Altitude: 13,10 meters/ 4600 feet Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: HotelDuration: 45 minutes via private car/ JeepDistance: 6 kilometers/ 3.7 miles.
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Cost Details
Includes
  • Airport Pickup and drop-off via private car/ jeep to International Airport in Kathmandu,
  • Two nights accommodations on a B&B basis in a respective hotel in Kathmandu,
  • Accommodation in a lodge and tea house during exploration,
  • Fresh and local meals  (breakfast, lunch, dinner),
  • Sightseeing at the inner core of Kathmandu Valley with experienced and certified guides,
  • Experience a certified trekking guide for the entire trek,
  • All the transportation facilities are included as per the itinerary,
  • Restricted area permits along with Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card fees,
  • Government Tax processing fee and service charge,
  • First AID medical kit in case of emergency occurs during the trek,
  • Welcome and farewell dinner in an authentic Nepali cuisine restaurant with live cultural & traditional programs.
Excludes
  • International 2-way flight tickets and visa fees,
  • Extra drinks (hard) and snacks during the trip,
  • Traveling and medical insurance,
  • Extra porter: A single porter can carry 20 kilograms, which can be shared by two people.
  • Tips for guides and porters,
  • Personal essentials, laundry services, basic material
  • Personalized professional trekking kit
  • Emergency rescue and evacuation by any means of transportation including Heli services and medical service.
Route Map
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek - 9 Days
Altitude Chart
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek - 9 Days
Essential Information

Best Time for Ghorepani Poonhill Trek

There are four seasons in Nepal, and different seasons have different scenes and views. Different seasons offer different views of the same place. Overall, the best seasons to trek Ghorepani Poonhill are Spring and Autumn when the climate and weather are moderate.However, the Ghorepani Poonhill is located in a lush green forest 

Autumn season 

In Nepal, the Autumn season falls between September to November, where weather during autumn is moderate with clear skies and favorable environment where there is less chance of rainfall and snowfall. After the monsoon season, autumn starts, and all the dust is washed away by the rain, where all the trails are clean and dust-free.

Spring season 

In Nepal, the spring season falls between March to May, which is one of the best times for trekking in Ghorepani Poonhill. In spring the whole forest blooms, and you can see whole fresh snow-capped mountains. After the winter season, the spring season starts when you can enjoy the mountain view with fresh snow, and the weather is perfect, where it is very cold during the morning and nighttime, and during the day, the temperature is in moderate ranges from 15° to 20° celsius.

Essential packing list for Ghorepani Poonhill Trek 

For 4-5 days of trekking, 40 to 60 liters of sturdy backpack with raincover. Pack your essential items in the backpack. Here is the essential gear list for the Ghorepani Poonhill trek:

  • Trekking boots
  • Socks (avoid low ankle
  • Warm light clothes
  • Windproof and Waterproof jacket and pants
  • Hat and gloves
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle/ water purification tablets
  • Headlamp with extra batteries and charger 
  • First aid kit

Food and Accommodation on Ghorepani Poonhill Trek

Breakfast

For breakfast, you will be served a local breakfast, which includes bread and chapati, Tibetan Bread, beans, eggs, porridge, soup, pancakes, cereals, milk, coffee, tea, and other options.

Lunch 

Lunch will be in the middle of the day in between 12 noon to 1 pm, when you will be served food with locally grown You will be having the best lunch with the Himalayan views with a variety of food options, where Dhal, Bhat, and  Tarkari ( Rice, lentils, and veggies) is the typical Nepali Lunch including western food as well such as: Pasta, rice, noodles, pasta and macaroni, spaghetti, momo (dumpling), pizza, hamburgers, dumplings, desserts, and more.

Dinner

After a long day hike, you need to fuel up your body with a good and fresh meal at local tea houses, served with warm hospitality. For lunch and dinner, they have the same option, basically Dhal, Bhat, and  Tarkari ( Rice, lentils, and veggies), which is the best diet to gain energy.

Alternative trek from the Ghorepani Poon Hill route

If you're looking for an alternative trek from the Ghorepani Poon Hill route, several options offer unique experiences and landscapes in the Annapurna region of Nepal. Here are a few alternatives:

These are just a few alternatives to the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, each offering its unique highlights and experiences in the Annapurna Region of Nepal. Depending on your preferences and trekking experience, you can choose the route that best suits your interests and fitness level

 

 

 

 

FAQs

The trek typically takes 6-9 days to complete, starting and ending in Nayapul or Birethanti, depending on the route chosen.

The best seasons for the trek are autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May), when the weather is stable, and the skies are clear, offering excellent visibility of the mountains.

No prior trekking experience is required, as the trek is of moderate difficulty and suitable for beginners with a reasonable level of fitness. However, some physical preparation, such as regular walking or hiking, is recommended.

Poon Hill, the highest point of the trek, is situated at an altitude of 3,210 meters (10,531 feet). While altitude sickness is less common at this altitude, some trekkers may experience mild symptoms. It's essential to ascend gradually, stay hydrated, and be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness.

You must purchase travel insurance even if the ultimate trekking height is 3210 m and there is reduced chance of altitude sickness. It's for your personal security. It is not typical to go for walks in the hills, verdant forests, and mountainous regions. Accidents and emergency scenarios could happen to you. Make sure your plan accounts for both medical costs and helicopter rescue.

No, Poon Hill does not have any tea shops or lodges. On the other hand, hikers who stay in Ghorepani take roughly 45 minutes to reach the summit of the peak. You can obtain tea and some light refreshments at the community center's little shop, which is located on the top.

The lodging on the route is excellent. The linked rooms are available for twin sharing on all nights except for Tadapani. The meal is from the menu, which consists of both western and regional specialties from Nepal. Purchasing bottled mineral water is the greatest choice for drinking water. Numerous stores can be found all along the route. As a result, using medications that filter water is not advised.

Hiring a guide or porter is optional but recommended, especially for those unfamiliar with the route or trekking in Nepal. A guide can provide valuable assistance with navigation, cultural insights, and safety, while a porter can help carry your backpack, allowing you to enjoy the trek more comfortably.

Essential items to pack include trekking boots, warm clothing, rain gear, sunscreen, sunglasses, a first-aid kit, water purification tablets, and a good-quality backpack. It's also advisable to bring a sleeping bag, although some teahouses provide blankets.

Yes, trekkers need to obtain the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card before starting the trek. These permits can be obtained in Kathmandu or Pokhara through authorized agencies.

The main highlights of the trek include stunning sunrise views from Poon Hill, panoramic vistas of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountain ranges, diverse landscapes ranging from rhododendron forests to terraced fields, and encounters with local culture and hospitality in traditional villages along the route.

During the Ghorepani trek in Nepal, access to clean water is crucial for staying hydrated and preventing illnesses. Here are some key points about water facilities along the Ghorepani trek:

Along the trail, you'll find several natural water sources like streams, rivers, and springs. While these water sources may seem clean, it's still advisable to purify the water before drinking it to avoid waterborne diseases.

Along the trekking route, there are numerous tea houses and lodges where you can rest and replenish their water supplies. Most of these places offer safe drinking water either in the form of boiled water or filtered water. Some may charge a small fee for refilling your water bottles.

It's recommended to carry water purification tablets, a portable water filter, or a UV water purifier. These tools will allow you to treat water from natural sources, ensuring it's safe for consumption.

Safety considerations include proper acclimatization, weather monitoring, adherence to climbing protocols, use of safety equipment, communication devices, and awareness of potential hazards such as avalanches and altitude-related illnesses.

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